I’m working through the Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications that are now on Ancestry.com. I think Seth Pryor, a Revolutionary War Soldier from South Carolina, needs a closer look. Continue reading
Category Archives: Virginia Pryors
Mary Pryor, another Pryor from VA! She’s the mother of Reuben Meriwether found in the Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications. Reuben Meriwether born 15 December 1743 in Goochland County, VA and later of Ann Arundel Co., MD, was a signer of the “Declaration of Freeman, the first declaration of independence. His father was Nicholas Meriwether (husband of Mary Pryor – or Prior). Using Reuben’s birthdate as a frame of reference, Mary Pryor would have been born around 1720, putting her in the same generation as the grandchildren of Robert Pryor and Betty Virginia Green. Yet I don’t have anyone in my database of Pryors who seems to match this Mary. Several months ago I posted about Pryor and Meriwether connections (https://tennesseepryors.com/kentucky-pryors/more-meriwether-connections-to-va-and-ky-pryors/), so we can probably add this Pryor to the list!
You may be wondering why I’m so curious about Nathaniel Pryor of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and how he fits in with the Pryors from Virginia. His father was a John Pryor. My own Pryor ancestor who is also my “brickwall” was a John Pryor who owned land in Campbell County, VA. I would just like to get the John Pryors sorted out so we know who is who!
I found a John Pryor in the Report of the Virginia State Library, Volume 5 by the Virginia State Library, Calendar of legislative petitions: Amherst, Bedord, and Botetourt:
1803 Dec. 9. A909. Establishment of flour inspection at Bethel; place is convenient to people coming down James River from mountains. Richard F. Ellis, Burnett Jenkins, John Prior, Anthony Christian, and 125 others. Reported.
Then on 20 November, 1805, a Jesse Pryor is in the records.
A920 Division of county. William Jopling, Jesse Pryor, Robert Sebree, John Roberts, John Harding and 60 others.
I think this is the John and Jesse Pryor who were on the 1800 Tax List for Amherst Co., VA virginia-a-counties/ and that they were sons of Nicholas Pryor.
Everyone seems to be connected. Even when looking at James Pryor and other pryors from Jefferson County, Kentucky.
A Jefferson Co., KY will extract:
“Will of John M OFFAND Nov 23 1818, probated March 11 1822 gives to wife Henrietta Offand and after her death to his children; executor Henrietta Offand, wife, JAMES PRYOR, Fortunatus COSBY, and William MCKEEVER Jefferson CO.”
Forts. (sic) Cosby is on the 1820 Census in Jefferson County (Louisville). I looked around the Internet for some information on him and found that Fortunatus Cosby married Mary Ann Fontaine in Louisa Co., VA. 1 Nov 1785. From the Register of St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County. Ah ha! looks like he’s connected to St. James Northam Parish like the Pryors descended from Col. William Pryor and Sarah Wood.
The Cosbys look like they were well connected. The History of Kentucky: From Its Earliest Discovery and Settlement…, by Zachariah Frederick Smith. Fortunatus Cosby, probably the son of the Fortunatus named in the above) was the Consul General to Switzerland (Geneva) 1862).
I see researchers have James Pryor, brother of Nathaniel Pryor, died in Louisville around 1822. I haven’t found him on the 1820 Census, so can’t confirm if he’s the James Pryor mentioned in this extract.
It is interesting how these names get so tangled.
Revisiting the Pryors on the Kentucky frontier. Back to the Meriwethers again! I found this extraction of a document filed in Shelby County, KY. It names some Samuel Pryor, Daniel Farley
Shelby County, Book A, 1795-1804. Daniel, Robert, August 8, 1792. August 1797. Legatees Thomas, Coleman and Martin Daniel (bros.), John Daniel (father), Sukey Morris, Besty Merriweather, Martin, Reuben (last 3 children of sis. Clark). Ex. Martin Daniel, Nicholas Merriweather. Wit. Daniel Farley, Sam’l Pryor.
“The Encyclopedia of Louisville” by John E. Kleber states that Nicholas Meriwether was born 1749 in VA and died 1828 in Shelby Co., KY. He is purported to be the son of Frances Morton Merriwether (who later married Dr. Samuel Pryor of Goochland Co., VA). The same article purports Nicholas was the cousin of Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Betsy Meriwether in this extract is probably Elizabeth Daniel, Nicholas’ wife. So the Daniels in this extract were his wife’s family.
Samuel Pryor in this extract is likely the son of Samuel and Frances, and the half brother of Nicholas Meriwether.
Daniel Farley married Marietta Pryor on 28 Sept. 1786 in Amelia Co., VA. It’s believed that she migrated to KY with her husband and was living in Henry Co., KY at the time of the 1810 Census. I haven’t seen any documentation, but Marrietta is often included in family trees as the daughter of Samuel and Frances Pryor.
So, is there a connection between Samuel Pryor who married Frances Morton Meriwether and John Pryor the father of Nathaniel Pryor who was part of Lewis and Clark’s expedition and also resided in the Kentucky frontier?